BCA-USA MIRROR
NAMING CEREMONY IN BALI NYONGA By Ma Awa Nukuna
I
n Bali Nyonga, when a child is born, there is a day set aside for their ritual outing – a presentation to the public. This ritual outing holds significance to the family as this is when the child is given their middle name which also builds the child’s social identity. The ceremony is attended by both maternal and paternal relatives as well as friends of the family.
TWINS
When twins are born into a family, it is reported to the person responsible for performing traditional rites. A long time ago, Ba Tita Fongwa was responsible for performing these rites. When he died, it was transferred to Ba Tom Gwanmesia. He was the head of the Tanyis and Manyis. He knew the big Manyis (mothers of twins) to call for the occasion. The Manyis will cook their plantains. The mouth of the pot with plantains is tied with plantain leaves for them to come and open. They will bring special leaves called “mumbɔd” ground camwood and tie it in two rolls and also bring two bottles of palm oil, two bundles of salt, Calabar chalk and “nidem” for the ceremony. At the compound, they will tie the mumbɔd on the head of Manyi and Tanyi as well as other Tanyis (fathers of twins) and some older twins. They will rub bɨ̀ (camwood) on their feet and mark their chests and side of the head with Calabar chalk. There is another grass called “fɨ̌fəm”. It is used like peace plant. It is shown on the people’s forehead using the left hand to cut and put inside the mumbɔd leaf. These is mixed together, and kept ready for hiding. This mixture is the special leaf and the “ntɔŋ” (navel). The Manyis will put salt in one place and palm oil in another plate. This will be placed in the middle of the laŋju’ (compound) where they sit around. Twin songs will be tuned for everybody to sing and dance and put money in
Ma Awa Nukuna
the plate. The money in the plate goes to Ba Tom and the big Manyis while the “small Manyis” get the cooked plantains. But if the concerned is rich, he gives them money also. The remaining salt and oil used outside is given to the senior maternal grandmother. A live chicken is brought and given to Ba Tom. He cuts the chicken in the middle of the chest without killing it first to remove the heart. While the bird is still shaking, the officiant takes out the heart and gives it to the new Manyi to swallow with the blood. The reason behind this is to give the new mother courage and strength: when Manyi hears anything suddenly, her heart should be strong (to imbue Manyi with courage and a brave heart). A twin bag is also brought by the head of the Tanyis. Inside the twin bag there must be Calabar chalk and nidem. These are meant for the new Manyi to chew and rub them on the twins when they are sick. However, with the evolution of society, people have converted these expenses into cash and now give money to the concerned because of Christianity. If the twins are boys, they will be called Samgwa’a and Samjela.* If the mother has triplets where one is a girl and the others are boys, the name of the girl will be Nahyenni.
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